Service.

Service is our first priority. Whether you need a strategy to proactively manage your tax burden or support to run your business, we offer customized services to meet your accounting needs. The very best service we offer is dedication to strong collaborative relationships. How can we be of service to you?

What We Do

Planning.

Nobody likes the surprise of a large tax bill. We work proactively to help our clients plan for and minimize their tax obligations and effectively manage their cash flow.

Compliance.

When it comes to filing your tax returns, B.A. Harris has the knowledge and experience to meet your needs. Taxes are complex and laws are constantly changing. We stay up to date on the latest developments to ensure your tax returns are optimized for current conditions.

Representation.

Should you receive a tax or audit notice from federal or state regulatory authorities, we are prepared to make sense of the situation, represent your interests, and bring a swift resolution to the matter.

Your business is more than just numbers to us.

Businesses have a wide array of reasons for needing timely financial statements. B.A. Harris offers different levels of assurance services depending on your organization’s specific needs. We view each engagement as a collaboration between our team and yours to illuminate overall financial performance while discovering opportunities for improvement and growth.

It’s personal.

Our firm is focused on building lasting, meaningful relationships with our clients through clear and frequent communication. We recognize that most business owners must rely on the expertise of trusted accounting professionals to simplify the financial reporting process so they can focus on the business they know best. At B.A. Harris, we aim to provide value to our clients as a dependable resource year-round to guide the financial health of your company.

We know your business.

Go ahead and lean on us.

B.A. Harris has a team of talented and intelligent professionals with a wealth of experience to support you in making confident decisions big and small. Getting to know you and your business is our job. We listen to you. We help resolve your challenges with objective professional advice.

The possibilities are endless. Here are just some of the ways we can help:

To achieve is to first plan.

Most of us have some idea of what we want for the future of our loved ones and businesses when one’s time is past. Yet ensuring a smooth transition and transfer of assets later while maintaining control now can be difficult if not carefully considered in advance. Our role is to assist you in evaluating the options available to help you reach your goals in an ever-changing tax and economic environment.

Win-win.

We know running a business is time consuming. B.A. Harris can free up your time so you can focus on the big stuff by having us handle your bookkeeping, payroll, and annual reporting responsibilities. You can relieve yourself of worry by knowing that we have your back office covered with accurate, reliable, and knowledgeable support services.

Ready to chat? So are we.

About

Our mission is to help our clients and our professionals thrive. Through dedication to lasting relationships, we are committed to your success.

B.A. Harris has been providing accounting and consulting services to clients for the past 21 years. Founded in 1998 and located in beautiful Boise, Idaho, we think of ourselves as more than just a team of number crunchers. Each of our valued and talented professionals is dedicated to a standard of excellence and seeks to wow you with responsive and personable attention. At the core of what we do, is our clients. Our firm’s values reflect our commitment to cultivating long-term mutually beneficial relationships. Below are our mantras. These ideals exemplify what we stand for and what makes us unique.

Honor all relationships with gratitude and respect.

Be authentic and responsive.

Commit to developing our people.

Make a good life, not just a good living.

MEMBERSHIPS

Arla Kester
CPA, Partner

Tyler Nyman
CPA, Partner

Buck Harris
CPA, Partner

Karris Kimball
CPA, Manager

Tara O’Connor
CPA, Manager

Greg Stalling
CPA, Manager

Aaron Lavarias
CPA, Associate

Janice Schiedel
Associate

Emily Matos
Associate

Michelle Britain
Firm Administrator

We have lots of things to say.

We periodically publish content that will help you make better decisions. Check out our blog.

Find B.A. Harris

Arla Kester CPA, Partner

Arla has over 35 years of experience in both private and public accounting and joined B.A. Harris at inception in 1998. Arla finds that both the continual learning required to deliver exceptional client services and providing peace of mind by making sense of it all is very rewarding. She is constantly wowed by the B.A. Harris team’s commitment to excellence and the collective energy and intelligence they contribute to the firm’s success.

Originally from Salt Lake City, she has such appreciation for the beauty of Utah, but Idaho is home. She loves to explore unfamiliar backroads and is happiest when outdoors with family and dogs - hiking, skiing, or biking. Traveling anywhere, but especially internationally and to new cultures is her favorite pastime.

Tyler Nyman CPA, Partner

Although he was born and raised in Seattle, Tyler moved to Boise in 2008 and considers the Treasure Valley Home. With over 20 years of experience, Tyler enjoys working with clients of all sizes to solve their problems and achieve their goals. Tyler brings a proactive approach to client relationships, and truly believes that those relationships are what this job is all about.

When not at his desk, you can find Tyler traveling the world, playing golf, running in the foothills, or maybe enjoying a glass of wine from his growing collection.

Education and Professional Designations

BA – University of Washington

MBA – Seattle University

Certified Public Accountant - Idaho

Member, Idaho Society of Public Accountants

Member, American Institute of Public Accountants

Member, AICPA Tax Section

Member, Construction Financial Management Association

Buckner A. (Buck) Harris CPA, Partner

Buck attended the College of Idaho in Caldwell, Idaho. He began his career in Idaho with Deloitte Haskins & Sells, the predecessor to Deloitte now based in Boise. Desiring to work in a small firm environment and more closely and directly with individuals and small businesses he began what is now B.A. Harris. Buck’s focus the past 35 years has been individual and business income tax issues and planning as well as litigation support provided to attorneys primarily in the family law arena.

Buck is an avid tennis player and fly fisherman. He also enjoys cycling (primarily on his e-bike), working in his yard and reading mystery-murder-spy novels.

Tara O’Connor CPA, Manager

Providing tax compliance and consulting services to individuals and closely-held business clients, Tara brings diverse experience from the public accounting, private accounting and financial sectors to her clients. She spent three years at Ibbotson Associates in Chicago, where she was involved in the development and preparation of Ibbotson’s widely recognized valuation and investment publications. After returning to Boise, she transitioned into public accounting in 2006. Tara is dedicated to developing long-lasting relationships with her clients and understanding their unique business, accounting and tax needs. She works to provide exceptional value and peace of mind to her clients through effective communication, strategic guidance and high-quality services.

A native Idahoan and mother of two, Tara enjoys spending time with her family as well as hiking in the Boise foothills, skiing at Bogus Basin and playing on Payette Lake in McCall.

Karris Kimball CPA, Manager

Karris has nearly a decade of experience in corporate tax and public accounting at firms both big and small. A career as a CPA provides Karris a unique angle from which to view the limitless variations of business operations and individual personal experiences. It is through these narratives that she finds meaning in being a trusted advisor and serving a supportive role in clients’ growth and success. At B.A. Harris, she is dedicated to the process of continual improvement in order to deliver the highest level of client service.

Karris was born and raised in Idaho and enjoys all that nature has to offer. Most of her free time is spent adventuring to wild and scenic places with her husband.

Greg Stalling CPA, Manager

Greg is a born and raised Idahoan and after a couple brief stints in Southern California, vows to never leave the state again. He has almost 8 years of tax experience, including 4 with a large corporation prior to joining B.A. Harris in 2016. Greg really enjoys the variety of work and complexities that public accounting offers.

When not at work, Greg enjoys working in his yard, cheering on the L.A. Dodgers and spending time with his wife, daughter and two dogs.

Education and Professional Designations

BA Business (Accounting) – College of Idaho

MBA – Northwest Nazarene University

Certified Public Accountant – Idaho

Member, Idaho Society of Certified Public Accountants

Member, American Institute of Certified Public Accountants

Aaron Lavarias CPA, Associate

Aaron was born in Honolulu, Hawaii and raised in Woodinville, Washington. A graduate of the University of Idaho, he majored in Accounting and was a member of their moderately successful football team. In 2011, he began his professional football career which included stints with the New England Patriots, Detroit Lions, and the Montreal Alouettes. After retiring in 2017, Aaron passed his CPA exam and began working for B.A. Harris. Entering his second year, Aaron is enjoying the consistent challenges and learning opportunities afforded to him in the public accounting sphere, as well as researching new and exciting tax incentive programs.

In his free time Aaron enjoys spending time with his two sons, mowing his lawn, and cheering the Mariners on to their inevitable first World Series appearance.

Education and Professional Designations

BS Business (Accounting) – University of Idaho

Certified Public Accountant – Idaho

Member, Idaho Society of Public Accountants

Member, American Institute of Public Accountants

Janice Schiedel Associate

Janice relocated to Boise from Chicago (via Hong Kong for two years) where she worked in the corporate tax field. Since arriving in the City of Trees, she has expanded her tax expertise to include individual, small business, trust, and non-profit compliance. She looks forward to busy tax seasons at B.A. Harris and treats the challenge like training for a competition -- striving to improve efficiency and quality of each return prepared. She also finds satisfaction supporting our clients in business by providing organized bookkeeping and meaningful reporting.

Janice keeps life full by travelling to see her family, training her dog and her husband, hiking, skiing and woodworking.

Education and Professional Designations

BBA (Accounting) – Iowa State University

Master of Science in Taxation – DePaul University

Emily Matos Associate

Emily is a recent graduate of Boise State University where she obtained a degree in accountancy. She is a Northern California native, but moved to Southern Idaho with her family in 2006 and has considered it her home ever since. Emily joined B.A. Harris in 2019 as a tax season intern, then joined the team full-time later that fall. She is looking forward to gaining more tax and accounting experience in the years to come and is currently working toward obtaining her CPA license.

Emily loves animals, traveling near and far, and getting lost in a good book.

Education and Professional Designations

AA, General Business – College of Southern Idaho

BBA, Accountancy – Boise State University

Michelle Britain Firm Administrator

Michelle is a proud Idaho Native and attended College of Western Idaho where she studied Business. Beginning her career in Accounting in 1999, she has also worked in Human Resources and joined B.A. Harris as Firm Administrator in 2017. She has extensive experience in employee relations, recruiting and performance management. Michelle oversees all administrative functions, large client bookkeeping and payrolls, as well as all firm finances. Personable and super friendly, she is always happy to help and enjoys working with our amazing clients.

In her free time, Michelle is often riding her dirt bike with her family and camping. She is fast paced and adventure driven.